Filleting device

ABSTRACT

Poultry carcasses are conveyed on saddles with their breastbone plate facing downwards to a scraping device having left and right scraping elements arranged adjacent to each other to simulate the contour of the approaching poultry carcass. The scraping elements are spaced apart by a signal from the control unit in relation to the individual width of the poultry carcass. Each scraping element has a sinew restraint that finds and restrains the tender sinew located in the region of the body joint, so that the scraping element can pass unhindered into the region between bone and meat and so obtain an optimum yield. A second scraping device, arranged essentially symmetrically to the direction of conveying, has left and right discs that are slidable by pivot levers to move on the corresponding part of the symmetrical wishbone in order to detach the meat connected to the wishbone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device and a method for removing the filletsfrom the eviscerated carcasses of poultry whose extremities have beendetached.

2. Description of the Related Art

From EP A1 168 865 is known a device of this kind which is designed toremove the head portion of the wishbone (clavicula), wherein thisoperation is however before a filleting process whose result is a doublefillet including the breast meat in the form of outer and inner fillets.With this device, the poultry carcasses present as front halves aremounted on the saddles of a rotationally driven conveyor, so that thesaddle horn extends into the neck opening and the breast portion facesupwards. Filleting of the poultry carcass being conveyed with the neckopening in front is effected on the lower run of the device and beginswith retention of the breast meat and hence stripping thereof from thewishbone to the breastbone (sternum) and is continued by a scraping toolwhich is adapted to the shape of the poultry carcass and, by penetrationbetween skeleton and meat, causes separation of the meat up to the keelof the breastbone (crista sterni). By means of scraping fingers whichthen follow, detachment from the flanks of the breastbone is effected inits region of transition to the breastbone plate (corpus sterni) andfinally complete separation of the double fillet by means ofrotationally driven peeling belts. A further practical example of thisstate of the art provides as the first filleting tool a pair of millingrollers which lift the fillet meat located in the region of the ribs offthe skeleton. Behind this tool is a scraping tool after the fashion ofthe one described above, which causes separation of the meat up to thekeel of the breastbone. Complete separation of the double fillet isfinally again undertaken by a tool consisting of rotationally drivenpeeling belts. From EP-A1 207 553 is known a further device for recoveryof the meat from poultry carcasses in the form of double fillets. Heretoo the starting product is the front half of a poultry carcass which isinverted over the saddle horn of a saddle which forms part of arevolving conveyor. On inversion, the wing joints and hence the pointsof application of the wishbone are kept forced inwards, and the poultrycarcass is thus supplied to the filleting tools which are arranged alongthe lower run of the conveyor and recover the fillet meat essentially bypushing it off. In the recovery of such fillets from poultry carcasses,unfortunately e.g. due to the different geometries of the naturallygrown carcasses it is not possible to obtain an optimum of fillet meatat the same time as a visually pleasing product.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now the object of the present invention to increase the yield offillet meat, at the same time with a visually pleasing product.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the fact that adevice for removing the fillets from the eviscerated carcasses ofpoultry whose extremities have been detached, which includes at leastone measuring device for measuring the individual dimensions of thecarcass, at least one control unit and at least one scraping device,wherein the measuring device is connected via the control unit to the atleast one scraping device for the purpose of communicating.

A development according to the invention provides that the device forremoving the fillets from the eviscerated carcasses of poultry whoseextremities have been detached includes at least one measuring devicefor measuring the individual dimensions of the carcass, at least onecontrol unit and at least two scraping devices, wherein the measuringdevice is connected via the control unit to the scraping devices for thepurpose of communicating.

In another development according to the invention it is provided that atleast one scraping device comprises an element for pulling back thetender sinew.

Further it may be provided according to the invention that at least onescraping device comprises at least two disc-like scraping elements.

A development according to the invention provides that at least onescraping device comprises at least two disc-like scraping elementssimulating the contour of the poultry carcasses.

In another development according to the invention it is provided thatthe disc-like scraping elements are of rotatable construction.

Further it may be provided according to the invention that the disc-likescraping elements are of pivotable construction such that thecircumferential surfaces of their discs are arranged so that they can berolled over the wishbone from the body joint of the poultry carcass.

A development according to the invention provides that in front of eachscraping device in the direction of conveying is arranged at least onemeasuring device.

In another embodiment according to the invention it is provided thatthere is provided a poultry processing device including at least onedrivable conveyor which comprises at least one saddle for receiving thepoultry, wherein a device for removing the fillets from the evisceratedcarcasses of poultry whose extremities have been detached according toone or more of the above-mentioned claims is used.

Further it may be provided according to the invention that a poultryfilleting method is provided, wherein one of the devices describedhereinbefore is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A practical example of the device according to the invention isdescribed in more detail with the aid of the drawings. They show:

FIG. 1 a stripped view of the poultry carcass

FIG. 2 a simplified side view of a poultry carcass on a saddle withactivated clamping lever

FIG. 3 a side view of a detail of a poultry processing device

FIG. 4 a top view according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 is shown part of a poultry carcass 1 with reference to itsbone structure which essentially consists of a breastbone 2, from whichthe coracoid bones 3 extend forwards, or in the direction of conveying29. The wishbone 4, which extends as far as the wishbone head 5, isconnected by the body joints 6 to the coracoid bones 3. This poultrycarcass 1 is mounted on a saddle 9 which is in turn fixed in a frame,not shown in more detail, of a device for recovery of the breast meatfrom slaughtered poultry on an endlessly rotating conveyor 26. The partof the poultry carcass 1 which is shown in FIG. 1 is produced by anoblique cut transversely through the poultry carcass 1, wherein the cutis made while separating the pelvis with the legs and while cuttingthrough the vertebral column roughly parallel to the ribs connected tothe vertebral column.

In FIG. 2 is shown a poultry carcass 1 on a saddle 9 in a side view, thepoultry carcass 1 being pressed against the saddle 9 by means of theactivated clamping lever 8. The inner contour of the breastbone plate 10rests on the saddle 9. Essentially the poultry carcass 1 consists of thebreastbone 2, from which the coracoid bones 3 extend in the direction ofthe body joints 6. The wishbone 4, which extends as far as the wishbonehead 5, is connected to the coracoid bones 3 by the body joints 6 towhich are also attached the scapulae 7. The poultry carcass 1 is mountedon a saddle 9 which is fixed in a frame, not shown in more detail, of adevice for recovery of the breast meat from slaughtered poultry on anendlessly rotating conveyor 26.

In the view according to FIG. 3 can be seen a side view of a poultryprocessing device.

The poultry carcass, not shown, which as described in FIGS. 1 and 2 islocated on the saddles 9 arranged at regular intervals on the endlesslyrotating conveyor 26, passes with its breastbone plate facing downwardsinto the input region of the measuring device 11.

This is because the arrangement of the device for removing the filletsselected in the embodiment shown is mounted below the endlessly rotatingconveyor 26. In this way the ultimately removed fillet drops, assistedby gravity, into a collecting vessel suitably arranged below the device.In the region of the measuring device 11 the poultry carcass which ismoved by means of conveyor 26 must successively pass in the direction ofconveying 29 through a first measuring element 12 and a second measuringelement 13, wherein the measuring element 12 is important for detectionof one body joint, and the measuring element 13 is important fordetection of the other body joint. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the bodyjoints 6 are arranged essentially parallel and adjacent to each other inone plane, so that it follows that the measuring elements 12 and 13 aremounted with offset tracks according to the distance between the bodyjoints 6. After the measuring elements 12 and 13, the poultry carcasspasses through a third measuring element 14 which consists of twodetecting parts or elements. These two elements are arranged in oneplane and resemble double swing doors. The signals obtained individuallyfrom the measuring elements just described in relation to the respectivedimensions of the poultry carcasses are transmitted directly to acontrol unit 15 by means of the signal wires 24 and serve essentiallyfor individual identification of the position of the body joints of eachindividual poultry carcass which passes by means of conveyor 26 into theregion of the device for recovery of the fillet. But it is also possiblewith the device shown to make statements regarding the height, width andlength of the poultry carcass. The control unit 15 now signals thearrival of each poultry carcass, but in particular the position of thebody joints 6 of the respective poultry carcass, to the first scrapingdevice 16. This scraping device 16 consists of a left scraping element17 and a right scraping element 18, wherein these scraping elements 17,18 arranged adjacent to each other essentially simulate the contour ofthe poultry carcass from the viewpoint of the approaching poultrycarcass. The scraping elements 17, 18 are arranged pivotably relative toeach other, so that they can be spaced apart e.g. by means of a signalfrom the control unit 15 in relation to the individual width of thepoultry carcass. The left scraping element 17 has a left sinew restraintdevice 19 which is intended to find and restrain the tender sinewlocated in the region of the body joint, so that the scraping elementcan pass unhindered into the region between bone and meat and so obtainan optimum yield. The right scraping element 18 has a right sinewrestraint device 20 which is intended to find the corresponding tendersinew located on the opposite body joint. After the first scrapingdevice is located a second scraping device 21 which, arrangedessentially symmetrically to the direction of conveying, comprises aleft disc 22 and a right disc 23 which are preferably made of metal,wherein these discs 22, 23 can be driven with a disc drive 27. Thesediscs 22, 23 are slidable by means of disc pivot levers 28 in such a waythat, the moment the control unit 15 indicates via the signal wires 24the appearance of the body joints 6 of the poultry carcass within rangeof the second scraping device, the circumferential surface 25 of thediscs 22, 23 moves towards the corresponding body joint and abutsagainst it. In the course of the movement of the poultry carcass causedby the conveyor 26, the discs 22, 23 move on the corresponding part ofthe symmetrical wishbone 4 towards its wishbone head 5 in order todetach the meat connected to the wishbone 4. After reaching the wishbonehead, the rotating discs 22, 23 are steered out of direct range of thepoultry carcass. In a special embodiment the discs 22, 23 are blunt,particularly in the region of their circumferential surface 25.

In a further alternative embodiment it is provided that in the regionbetween first scraping device 16 and second scraping device 21 isarranged a further measuring device 11 for checking the carcasscoordinates, which may possibly have changed after a processingoperation.

In another alternative embodiment it is provided that the scrapingdevices 16, 21 already described above are arranged in the reverseorder, so that the poultry carcass passes through first the scrapingdevice 21 and then the scraping device 16, wherein here too theadditional alternative that a further measuring device is arrangedbetween the scraping devices 21, 16 is conceivable.

In the view according to FIG. 4 can be seen a side view and a top viewof a poultry processing device according to FIG. 3. In the region of themeasuring device 11, the poultry carcass which is moved with theconveyor 26 shown in FIG. 3 must pass successively in the direction ofconveying 29 through a first measuring element 12 and a second measuringelement 13, wherein the measuring element 12 is important for detectionof one body joint 6, and the measuring element 13 is important fordetection of the other body joint 6, which are shown in FIG. 1. As canbe seen from FIG. 1, the body joints 6 are arranged essentially paralleland adjacent to each other in one plane, so that it follows that themeasuring elements 12 and 13 are mounted with offset tracks according tothe distance between the body joints 6, which can be seen in particularin FIG. 4 II. After the measuring elements 12 and 13, the poultrycarcass passes through a third measuring element 14 which consists oftwo detecting parts or elements, the left detecting part or element 30and the right detecting part or element 31. These two elements arearranged in one plane and resemble double swing doors. The signalsobtained individually from the measuring elements just described inrelation to the respective dimensions of the poultry carcasses aretransmitted directly to a control unit 15 by means of the signal wires24 shown in FIG. 3 and serve essentially for individual identificationof the position of the body joints as well as the volume and externaldimensions of each individual poultry carcass which passes by means ofconveyor 26 into the region of the device for recovery of the fillet.The control unit 15 which can also be seen in FIG. 3 now indicates thearrival of each poultry carcass, but in particular the position of thebody joints 6 of the respective poultry carcass, to the first scrapingdevice 16. This scraping device 16 consists of a left scraping element17 and a right scraping element 18. The scraping elements 17, 18 arearranged pivotably relative to each other, so that they can be spacedapart e.g. by means of a signal from the control unit 15 in relation tothe individual width of the poultry carcass. The left scraping element17 has a left sinew restraint device 19 which is intended to find andrestrain the tender sinew located in the region of the body joint, sothat the scraping element can pass unhindered into the region betweenbone and meat and so obtain an optimum yield. The right scraping element18 has a right sinew restraint device 20 which is intended to find thecorresponding tender sinew located on the opposite body joint. After thefirst scraping device is located a second scraping device 21 which,arranged essentially symmetrically to the direction of conveying,comprises a left disc 22 and a right disc 23, wherein these discs 22, 23can be driven with a disc drive 27 which can be driven with a drivebelt, not shown in more detail, by a motor, also not shown. These discs22, 23 are slidable by means of disc pivot levers 28 in such a way that,the moment the control unit 15 indicates via the signal wires 24 theappearance of the body joints 6 of the poultry carcass within range ofthe second scraping device, the circumferential surface 25 of the discs22, 23 moves towards the corresponding body joint and abuts against it.In the course of the movement of the poultry carcass caused by theconveyor 26, the discs 22, 23 move on the corresponding part of thesymmetrical wishbone 4 towards its wishbone head 5 in order to detachthe meat connected to the wishbone 4. After reaching the wishbone head,the rotating discs 22, 23 are again steered out of direct range of thepoultry carcass. In a special embodiment the discs 22, 23 are blunt,particularly in the region of their circumferential surface 25.

In another alternative embodiment according to FIG. 4 III it is providedthat the scraping devices 16, 21 already described above are arranged inthe reverse order, so that the poultry carcass passes through first thescraping device 21 and then the scraping device 16, wherein here too theadditional alternative that a further measuring device is arrangedbetween the scraping devices 21 and 16 is conceivable. In a furtheralternative embodiment it is provided that the measuring device 11 has aphotooptical element, e.g. a camera which in conjunction with aprocessor unit and a mathematical process, such as for exampletriangulation, determines volume and carcass data, or its coordinates,e.g. the wishbone shape.

1. A device for removing fillets from eviscerated carcasses of poultrywhose extremities have all been totally detached therefrom, comprising:at least one measuring device for measuring individual dimensions inthree dimensions of an eviscerated poultry carcass, whose extremitieshave all been totally detached therefrom, from the outside of thecarcass to find a starting position for loosening the fillets from thecarcass, the measuring device comprising: a first element having meansfor detecting a length and height of a first body joint point, a secondelement having means for detecting a length and height of a second bodyjoint point, wherein the first element and the second element are offsetin a transport direction of the carcass, and a third element which ismounted behind the first and second elements and consists of twodetecting parts having means for detecting a width of the first andsecond body joint points, respectively, at least one control unit, atleast one scraping device, and means connecting the measuring device viathe control unit to the at least one scraping device for the purpose ofcommunicating poultry carcass measuring data to the scraping device, theat least one scraping device including a disc-like scraping element. 2.A device according to claim 1, wherein two scraping devices areprovided.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said at least onescraping device comprises at least two disc-like scraping elements.
 4. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein said at least one scraping elementis of rotatable construction.
 5. A device according to claim 1, whereinsaid at least one scraping device includes an element for pulling backtender sinew of the carcass.
 6. A device according to claim 4, whereinsaid disc-like scraping element is of pivotable construction such that acircumferential surface of its disc is arranged so that it can be rolledover a wishbone from a body joint of the poultry carcass.
 7. A deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein in front of said at least one scrapingdevice in a direction of conveying is arranged at least one measuringdevice.
 8. A method for removing fillets from eviscerated carcasses ofpoultry whose extremities have all been totally detached therefrom,including the steps of: introducing an eviscerated carcass of poultry,whose extremities have all been totally detached therefrom, into adevice for removing fillets from the carcass; detecting individualpoultry carcass dimensions in three dimensions from an outside of thecarcass, to find a starting position for loosening the fillets from thecarcass, by recording poultry carcass-specific data by a first elementhaving means for detecting a length and height of a first body jointpoint, by a second element having means for detecting a length andheight of a second body joint point, wherein the body joint points aredetected one after another, and by a third element having means fordetecting a width of the first and second body joints which is mountedbehind the first and second elements in a transport direction;controlling at least one scraping device as a function of the detectedspecific carcass data and positioning scraping elements on previouslydetermined body joint points; subsequently detaching the fillets from apoultry carcass skeleton by at least one scraping element which isformed in a disc shaped construction, and completely detaching thefillets by subsequent scraping tools.
 9. A method according to claim 8,wherein detection of poultry carcass dimensions is effected bymechanical sensing of body joint points.
 10. A method according to claim8, wherein two sides of the poultry carcass are processed one after theother.